ELDERLY PERSONS IN DISTRESS

Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25797, 7 May 1949, Page 2

ELDERLY PERSONS IN DISTRESS

+ “GREATEST NEED IS PROPER BEDDING” CONDITIONS IN AUCKLAND DESCRIBED "The Press" Special Service AUCKLAND, May 6. “It is heartbreaking to see old people sleeping on sacks.” said Mr S. E. Langstone, secretary of the St. John Ambulance Association in Auckland, describing the work that is being done in the city bv the association among the old and infirm. Although many old persons had not sufficient food, the greatest need was proper bedding, Mr Langstone said. The Rotary Club recently had supplied more than 200 hot water bottles, but many persons still were living in rooms without fires and sleeping without any rugs or blankets. Food was taken each day by a St. John district nurse among certain old persons in dire need, he said. Hot soup and a hot egg sweet were prepared in the St. John staff kitchen, and then distributed by one of the nurses The lounge, at the Coqgregational Church hall was filled to capacity at noon each day, when lunch, which included a bow] of hot soup, was served to about 100 elderly persons. The cost of the food was borne by the association

Seven members of the St. John district nursing staff were working full time attending to elderly persons who were ill, Mr Langstone said. Five nurses with motor-ears were paying calls in the city and suburbs, and two others were working in the St. John clinic in Rutland street, and in the clinic in Union street. AH the eouipment was supplied by the Auckland Hospital Borrd.